* Jana *
I froze, my bag halfway slung over my shoulder. The noise of the office dulled, conversations fading into a distant murmur as my eyes locked with his. No mask this time. No polite pretense. Just him, watching me, as though the air between us was thick with everything we weren't saying.
I swallowed hard, breaking the stare first, pretending to fuss with the zipper of my bag. My pulse was a drumbeat in my throat. He couldn't, he shouldn't, look at me like that. Not here. Not with so many people around.
"Jana," Clarisse's voice broke through, bright and casual. "Want to grab lunch with us?"
I forced a smile, grateful for the excuse, though my voice wavered. "I'll catch up later. Need to finish something first."
She nodded and left with the others, their laughter trailing behind
